Definition

Verb: * To signal to a moving vehicle or person, typically by waving an arm or a flag, in order to make them stop.

Usage

This verb is used when you want a moving vehicle (like a taxi, bus, or car) to stop for you. It describes the specific action of getting the driver's attention. * The most common structure is: flag down + [vehicle/person]. * It is a separable phrasal verb. You can say "flag down a taxi" or "flag the taxi down."

Examples

• We need to flag down a taxi to get to the airport on time.
• She stood at the curb and successfully flagged down a passing bus.
• The police officer flagged our car down for a routine check.
• I tried to flag him down, but he was in a hurry and didn't see me.

Advanced Usage

• To be flagged down: This passive form is often used to describe the vehicle or driver that receives the signal.
  • The truck driver was flagged down by a stranded motorist.
• The phrase can be used metaphorically in some contexts to mean attracting someone's attention to stop them, though this is less common.
  • I had to flag my manager down in the hallway to ask a quick question.

Variants and Related Words

• Hail (verb): A close synonym, especially for taxis. ("Hail a cab.")
• Wave down (phrasal verb): A very similar phrase meaning to signal to stop by waving. ("Wave down a car.")
• Signal (verb): A more general term for communicating with gestures.

Synonyms

• Hail
• Wave down
• Signal to stop
• Summon (in this specific context)

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Pull over (verb): What the vehicle does after being flagged down. ("The taxi pulled over to the curb.")
• Stop for (verb): The driver's action. ("Will that bus stop for us?")

Related Idioms

• Catch someone's eye: To get someone's attention, which is often the first step before flagging them down.
  • I waved my hand to catch the taxi driver's eye.

Verb

1. signal to stop
   • Let's flag down a cab--it's starting to rain
   • The policeman flagged down our car